Even With Letter Writing, Persistence Pays

Have you ever been a bit of a groupie or admirer, someone who follows the career of a favorite singer, movie star, TV personality, or author? If you said yes, you wouldn’t be alone. Millions of people belong to fan clubs, follow performers across the country to see their latest acts, or wait outside theaters and auditoriums, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars. Perhaps you have a deep admiration for their talent, are charmed by their warm personality, or have an interest in seeing what their next creative endeavors might be.

In most cases, fans are simply part of the mass of humanity that follows talented people. Most fans remain faceless and nameless. But two fans I know of used the power of the written word to reach their musical idols on a more personal level. In both cases, the letter writers dreamed of meeting them in person. In both cases, handwritten letters proved to be key to breaking through the gatekeepers and making an impression on two very different famous singers.

The first singer was legendary country music icon, Charlie Rich. In order to impress the singer, one fan, named Judi, wrote either a postcard, notecard, or a letter to his fan club every day for a year. The persistence and dedication were not lost on Charlie, as she was later asked to meet him backstage on two separate occasions. Judi’s dream came true.

Her husband, Jerry, exhibited a different kind of persistence by writing the world’s longest fan letter to his rock and roll idol, John Kay of the band, Steppenwolf. The letter was a miraculous 337 pages long, handwritten on notebook paper. Kay was so impressed by this effort that he invited Jerry and Judi backstage on multiple occasions. Success!

Today, anything handwritten is noticed as special, thoughtful, personal and irreplaceable. Every person who receives a letter knows that the sender made an extra effort, just for them. It is no wonder then that Judi and Jerry’s efforts (either in the sheer number and regularity of the letters written, or in the length of one special letter) were deeply appreciated. As such, they got the kind of treatment and appreciation they deserved.

So, if you want to meet someone who is special to you, whether it be a famous person or that special someone next door, try the persuasive power of a handwritten letter to impress and delight them. You never know where that small effort might lead you.